How to get your work-life balance right

A healthy work-life balance is essential for maintaining overall well-being and productivity. However, I know that it can be difficult to work out where to start when you are looking to restore balance in your life. I know that I struggled with this at times in my business journey. The way that I tackled it was to choose one area at a time to improve upon and only move on to the next area when the first one was fully embedded in my lifestyle.

It is an ongoing project, particularly when you are self-employed, as the workload can fluctuate quite a lot, and unlike a traditional workplace where you can ask a team member for help, sole traders have to carry the entire burden themselves. These are some of the areas that I have looked at myself when working on my own work-life balance. It wouldn't be feasible to tackle all of these at once and I am not suggesting that you should even try. My tip is to pick one or two that seem manageable and concentrate on these.

• Set realistic goals: Identify your personal and professional goals and create a plan to achieve them. Setting realistic expectations and prioritising tasks based on their importance and urgency is a great way to start. It can be tempting to concentrate on the bigger goals such as income targets or number of clients. However, smaller goals are just as important; prioritising the work for the day first thing in the morning is a great way to work out what is important to deal with that day. If an item keeps falling to the bottom of the list, at the end of the week, look closely at that item. Does it really need to be done? If it does, why didn't you do it? Do you hate it (maybe you can outsource it), do you not know how to do it (can you get an expert in to do it?), is it a "nice to have" but not a necessity? If so, do you have the bandwidth to deal with a "nice to have" right now? Or can it wait on a list until you have more time?

• Schedule time for self-care: Make time for activities that promote your physical and mental health, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones. Scheduling time for self-care can help reduce stress and improve your overall well-being. And yes, I know this one can be particularly challenging. After much trial and error I found that putting sessions in the diary at the start of the week and treating my self-care as items on my To-do list ensures that they happen. This may not work for you but how you do it is less important than actually finding a way TO do it. As Fleetwood Mac would say "Go your own way" but do find a way.
  

• Learn to say no: It's important to set boundaries and learn to say no to commitments that don't align with your priorities. This can help you avoid over-committing and feeling overwhelmed. I find that VA's struggle with this a great deal because most of us are problem-solvers and have a history of being the "go to" person for anything and everything in the offices we have worked in. HR Consultants often struggle with saying no because they feel like they will let people down if they don't solve the issues. However, there is no reason why you cannot say "I cannot do that now, but I will do that for you on...." So, not a "No" but rather a "I hear you. I know you need this. And I will sort that for you as soon as I can".

• Establish a routine: Establishing a routine can help you stay organized and productive. Set specific times for work, breaks, and leisure activities and stick to them as much as possible.

• Take breaks: Taking regular breaks can help you avoid burnout and maintain your energy levels throughout the day. Take short breaks to stretch, walk around, or grab a healthy snack. A wander around the garden, hanging the washing out, going to the office kitchen for a drink, standing on the step outside and breathing deeply. All of these work well and don't take too much time out of your day.

• Limit distractions: Minimize distractions during work hours by turning off notifications and limiting social media use. This can help you stay focused and productive.

Remember that achieving a healthy work-life balance is an ongoing process that requires regular attention and adjustment. Be patient with yourself and celebrate small successes along the way. I know that you can do this.